Railway-tie.



Patented Jan. 7, I902;

No. 690,69l.

J. P. BICKERSTAFF.

" RAILWAY TIE.

(Application filed May 14, 1901.)

(Ho Modl.)

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P.- BIOKERSTAFF, OF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN A. MILLER, OF ROCHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TIE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters JEatent N 0. 690,691, dated January 7, 1902.

Application filed May 14,1901. Serial No. 60,211. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES P. BIOKERSTAFF, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Rochester, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the'accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in metallic railway-ties, together with a device to substitute nuts, bolts, and splice-bars for rail-joints as railtie fasteners, all of which I fully describe hereinafter.

With this object in view my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to form a perfect system of rail-tie fasteners and rail-ties united together. 7

In describing my invention in detail I refer to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference will indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

' Figure 1 is a plan View of a railway-track with my invention in place thereon, showing the rail-joint of two rails. Fig. 2 is a side View of one of my metallic ties and fasteners shown thereon. Fig. 3 is a sectional View of one of my rail-ties, showing the rail-fastening device in position atthe rail-joint, Fig. 4 is a modified view of Fig. 2, showing the flange or lower portion of the tie cut. Fig. 5

is a sectional view of my railway-tie, showing the rail-fastenin g device for a single rail. Fig.

6 is a view of my railway-tie device, showing only thelportion thereof at the'joint as seen in Fig. 3 when used merely as. a rail-tie fastener as a substitute for the usual bolts, splicebars, nuts, &c. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of themovable shoe 0. V

The tie B may be cross-sectionally of inverted-T shape having the base 2 and web 1. At each end it is provided with a fixed shoe forming a part of the rail-fastening devices. Where a joint is formed by two rails A A, the fixed shoes will be wider than those used for a single rail and will also be somewhat difierently formed. A fixed shoe for a joint is indicated at O in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 6, and a'fixed shoe for a single rail is indicated at O in Figs.

1, 2, and 4. Preferably these fixed shoes will be integral with the tie B; but they may be made separately and be rigidly secured to the tie B.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4t, and 6, it will be observed that the shoe 0 has a base portion 0, upon which the rails A are supported, and a brace part m, which fits in between the heads and flanges of the rails A and performs the function of the ordinary fish-plate. The inner edge of the base portion a is beveled, as indicated air.

The movable shoe or brace for a joint is indicated by O in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7, and this shoe is slotted, as indicated at y, to straddle the web portion 1 of the tie. This shoe is provided with a brace portion m, which fits between the flanges and heads of the rails A, and also with a lip 0 which projects under the flanges of the rails and which has a beveled surface 0 adapted to engage the beveled edge 0 of the base portion 0. The shoe 0 is also provided with projecting fingers or lugs 3 3-one on each side of the slot. The web portion 1 of the tie is provided with an openin g b for the passage of a wedge B, and when the parts are in position the fingers 3 will engage the lower surface of the wedge, and the shoe G will be forced into close contact with the inner sides of the rails A by the wedge B, and the rails will thus be firmly secured without the aid of spikes or similar devices.

The shoes 0 and O used for a single rail, are similar to the shoes 0 and O3, except that the brace portions :1: and :20 are omitted and they are not so wide. The shoe 0 is integral with the tie B, while the shoe 0 is removable. The lips c and c on the shoes which fit over the flange of the rail and the bevel parts 0 and c of the shoes will when wedged up tightly by the wedge B against the rail and each other form a secure locking device for the rail.

Having described the invention, I claim- 1. The combination of a tie B having a shoe rigidly connected to it to engage the outer edge of a rail, said tie having a web portion provided with an opening 19, a shoe provided with a slot to fit over said web portion and being movable thereon to engage the inner side of the rail, a wedge fitted in said opening and engaging said movable shoe to force it against the rail, and said movable shoe having fingers projecting below and engaging said wedge, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a tie B having ashoe rigidly connected to it to engage the outer side of the rail and said shoe having a beveled inner edge below the rail, said tie having a web portion provided with an opening I), a shoe provided with a slot to fit over said web portion and being movable thereon to engage the inner side of the rail, a Wedge fitting in said opening and engaging said mov- 

